Green Party launches plan for a 'confident and caring Country'

Party pledges to fight for bold policies like a basic income and shorter working week

The Green Party has today set out its key priorities for MPs elected on June 8th [1]. At their Green Guarantee launch in central London the co-leaders of the party pledged that Green MPs will fight to transform politics and create a confident and caring country.

They promised Green MPs would protect the environment, reverse the privatisation of the NHS, give people a referendum on the terms of any Brexit deal and bring forward plans for a basic income and shorter working week.

Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley focussed on young people, claiming that a generation has been let down by a Government 'hell-bent on an extreme Brexit' and an economy that 'fails the majority'.

The Green Party also announced plans to introduce an NHS Reinstatement Bill to Parliament, to reverse the privatisation of the Health Service. They also pledged to 'reverse the NHS funding gap', in part paid for by scrapping Britain's nuclear deterrent.

The Party pledged to immediately guarantee the rights of EU citizens, protect freedom of movement and give the British public, rather than just Parliament, the final say on any EU deal.

The Green Guarantee also promises to 'take steps towards the introduction of a universal basic income, including a government sponsored pilot scheme' and 'phase in' a shorter working week.

Sarah Lunnon, Parliamentary candidate for Stroud commented: “Greens are standing for a confident and caring Britain that reaches for a secure future we can be proud of. It’s about protecting our values of openness, compassion and co-operation. The Green Guarantee is our promise that a confident and caring future is possible if we dare to do politics differently and dare to be different. It says: we are ready – join us by voting Green on June 8th.”

At the launch Caroline Lucas, the party's co-leader, said:

"The Green Party has big, bold ideas to create a confident and caring country we can all be proud of. That means protecting our environment for our children and grandchildren. Saving our NHS from crisis and ridding it of private sector profiteering. It means giving people a proper say on the Brexit deal, not shutting them out of the process. And it means exploring changes to our economy to make it fairer and fit for the future. Green MPs elected on June 8th can be trusted to protect our public services, fight for a close relationship with the EU and truly hold whoever is in Government to account.

"If we do end up with a Tory Government you can be sure that Green MPs will hold Theresa May's feet to the fire."

Jonathan Bartley, the party's co-leader, said:

"By voting Green on June 8th people can elect MPs who will always fight their corner, and push for the major changes we need to make this country a world leader, rather than the little Britain envisioned by the Tories. We are unapologetic in fighting to remain close to Europe, and in defending free movement as a wonderful gift to my generation that is being robbed from the next. We will always defend our public services, stand up for our NHS and push for bold changes so our economy delivers on fairness and on pioneering new technology.